E.coli farm's sister site shut amid hygiene concerns

“UNSATISFACTORY” hygiene arrangements have been found at the sister site of the farm at the centre of the Surrey E.coli outbreak.

“UNSATISFACTORY” hygiene arrangements have been found at the sister site of the farm at the centre of the Surrey E.coli outbreak, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said.

Horton Park Children’s Farm, in Epsom, volunteered to close its doors following advice from the HPA, although there have not been any reported cases there of the E.coli strain which hit Godstone Farm.

A statement from the HPA said: “Horton Park Children’s Farm, the sister farm of Godstone Farm, has been inspected by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s environmental health department at the Health Protection Agency’s request.

“The hygiene arrangements were found to be unsatisfactory and the HPA advised the local authority that the farm should be closed immediately while these defects were rectified.

“We understand from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, which has statutory responsibility for regulating the farm, that the farm has agreed to close voluntarily.

“At this point we are not aware of any cases of E.coli O157 associated with visits to this farm.”

Hand washing facilities

It is understood that the two farms have their own separate animals and staff.

On Thursday, Horton Park's gates were padlocked and a laminated letter explaining the situation was attached to them.

The borough council said Horton Park was first visited by environmental health officers on Monday, two days after Godstone Farm was shut, "to remind the farm management of their obligations under Health & Safety Executive guidelines".

The HPA then requested another site visit the following day, at which it was found that the farm "did not fully meet the guidelines in some areas relating to hand washing facilities".

As a result, the council said Horton Park had closed “temporarily as a precautionary measure”, and added there was no cause for alarm among any recent visitors.

Farm manager Les Franklin said in a statement: “We have decided that owing to concerns expressed by us and others, and due to the chance of disease, the farm will close as a temporary measure until we and others are satisfied that everything in our power has been done to eliminate or reduce any potential problems.

“I must impress that Horton Park has had no suspected or actual cases of E.coli and that this is a precautionary measure taken by us to safeguard all our friends and customers.

“Our thoughts at this time are with the children, family and friends of all the people who are ill or suffering because of this unfortunate outbreak of E.coli.

“We are closely in touch with the environmental health team locally and the Health Protection Agency.”

Serious condition

Mr Franklin added that Horton Park would remain shut until the exact cause of the E.coli outbreak at Godstone – which has seen 45 people fall ill so far – had been identified.

Twelve of those affected are children, four of whom are in a serious condition in hospital, six are stable and two are improving.

Among them are three-year-old Alfie Weaver, from Redhill, who is being treated at East Surrey Hospital.

The chief executive of the HPA issued an apology on Wednesday for the delay in closing Godstone Farm.

It was initially reported that the first case of the bug emerged on August 27, after which warning signs were posted at the farm on September 3.

But it was not shut until September 12, and the subsequent revelation of two cases prior to August 27 led HPA boss Justin McCracken to admit that the seriousness of the outbreak “might have been avoidable”.

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.